The Navy ship’s starboard side was heavily damaged in the collision, but the vessel later managed to slowly return to its base in Yokosuka, with the assistance of US navy tug boats.

At a press conference in Japan on Sunday, 7th Fleet commander Vice-Admiral Joseph P Aucoin would not confirm how many remains had been found so far. Families of the sailors are being notified, he said.

“This loss is something we all feel,” he said.

Image copyrightReutersImage caption The collision left a huge gash down the right-hand side of the ship

Marine traffic records suggest the ACX Crystal, a 222-metre (730ft) Filipino-flagged container ship, made a sudden U-turn roughly 25 minutes before the crash. It is not known why it changed course.